The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-08-12
GOV. MoolLL TO THE LABoRlNc
MEN.

The Knights Of Labor, of Minneapolis,
held their annual picnic on Tuesday,
Among the speakers was Gov. McGill
and his remarks upon the subject, tThe
Position of the State were so admira-
BILE that we give our readers liberal ex-
tracts, as follows:
"The Position of the State" This is
the subject named for me to speak on.
suppose 1.-THE Position OF the State
with Reference TO labor" is the proper
definition of the subject. In the first
place / may say that the state is abso-
lutely dependent upon labor. Without
II there would be no development oil
natural resources, no accumulation OF
wealth, no growth, no prosperity, no
happiness. We have here in Minnesota
a climate unrivalled, a soil that is un-
surpassed, great mineral and lumber re-
sources, numerous lakes ofgreat beauty,
in fact, IN natural advantages Minneso-
Ia is unsurpassed by any other state
But without labor it would be to-day q
barren waste. Labor is the foundation
and cause of our prosperity, 1t is the
source and beginning of our strength
and greatness.
Now | have not come here to-day to
moralize with you or TO lecture you, but
since you have put me on the program
to speak you will not take it amiss if
| speak somewhat freely. | was raised
on farm and am myself familiar with
hard work, and / think i am somewhat
familiar with the aspirations and hopes
of workingmen. 1t is the ambition o
every workingman Tor should be- Il
provide himself and family with home
l, e. ak.lA -, .1g..s iss..N
The latter, thank God, can be obtained
without money and without price. I'm
der our benefcient and enlightened
system. of free schools, the poor mani
child enjoys the same privileges and ad
vantages that come within the reach o
the rich mans child. There is absolute
" no favoritism mere. No matter how
low and degraded the parent, the chile
enters the public school on exact equal
, ity with his fellows, and after that meri
: is the test of leadership. The publi
schools are the great boon to the labor
ing men of this age, and they deserv,
your heartiest and most loyal support
They are the buiwarks of this great fire,
nation, and should have the friendship
and staunch support of all good citizen
everywhere within its limits.
, would have the laboring men read
ers of books. OF course 1 do not meal
that they should be shut off from tn
other enjoyments of life. Recreation
as essential to happiness as knowledge
But for their own advancement L woul'
) have them obtain knowledge. In thi
, country every voter is a factor in tn
government and bears his share of re
sponsibility in administering it. 1t
your duty to share in this work. l hav
| xtpifh hn rfi IN
ipation of working men during the las
two or three years in governmental al
fairs and have regarded this fact as on
of the most encouraging signs of tn
times. Let the laboring men qualif
, themselves to the highest duty in thi
ne and 60 clear to the front. No on
I will rejoice more than l in whateve
success they may attain.
L have no doubt there are many re
3 forms vet to be wrought out among tn
= laborIng classes. Within my day th
hours of labor in factories have bee
reduced from IA hours to 10 for day
Y labor, and the weary toll of all branch
D es of labor has been greatly mitigateG
l have no doubt the movement in favo
of eight hours will yet succeed, as
think it should. Eight hours of phys
cal toll day with persons who work tn
year round is enough, and / feel sure
p the rule were universally adopted tn
a general result would be beneficial
More men would find employment
g reason of the change and more tim
would be given each individual for neeG
ed recreation and improvement. But
i will not attempt to discuss this questio
n here. Many nice questions of socis
q ethics and political economy are involN
ed In all questions affecting the right
and prosperity of the masses, which ar
8 now food for thought to many able me
: throughout the country, from who's
y pens and utterances We are continual
: receiving Instructions